He briefly returned to University of Tartu for two years in 1997 to work as a project manager and to participate in doctorate programme (still unfinished).

[2] Lukas joined Pro Patria Union in 1992 and was elected to Tartu City Council the next year.

1995 he became a member of Riigikogu and served for a year as the Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee for Cultural Affairs.

When the government fell on 28 January 2002 Tõnis Lukas returned to Riigikogu and was re-elected to the parliament in 2003, serving currently as a member of the Parliamentary Committee for Cultural Affairs.

After the resignation of Tunne Kelam he was elected the Chairman of Pro Patria Union on 16 April 2005.